2013 Democracy Study in Israel

The Israeli Democracy Institute (not the most rightwing of institutions, in case you were wondering) completed their annual survey of democracy in Israel.

“The project aims at assessing trends in Israeli public opinion regarding realization of democratic values and the performance of government systems and elected officials.”

Some of the major findings are:

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– The younger generation are espousing stronger Zionistic views than their elders.

– Younger people believe “Jewish” in more important than “democratic” for the State of Israel. They want a more “Jewish” state.

– Most Israelis want Israel to be more Jewish or “Jewish and Democratic”. Only a 21.8% believe that Israel can not be Jewish and Democratic.

– The survey found that most Israelis were satisfied with the level of freedom of religion and expression they have.

– Many want “Mishpat Ivri” Jewish Law to be the cornerstone of the Israeli Legal System (not the mishmash we currently inherited). Though in a conflict between the democracy and halacha, 42.7% prefer democracy over Jewish law (28.2%).

– Most Israelis (66.7%) believe that only Jews should have final say in critical issues affecting the future of Israel, such as in a referendum about giving away land from Israel in a peace treaty, or critical social and economic issues. Though this percent is in decline from its high of 82.9% in 2010.

– The majority of Israeli consider Jews to be the “chosen people”. Baruch Hashem.

– 73% do not feel there is great tension anymore between Sephardim and Ashkenazim.

– 57% of Jews do not want a foreign worker as a neighbor, and 48% would not want an Arab.

– Among Arabs, 46% would not want gay neighbors, and 42% would not want Jewish neighbors.

– 38% of secular (Hiloni) Jews would not want a religious neighbor.

– The majority of Jews, 62.8%, believe that there is no right to refuse to serve in Israel’s territories. While only 50.9% believe that there is no right to refuse regarding evacuating settlements. That’s a number we clearly still need to work on.

– Arabs on the other hand had a healthier attitude, and the majority believed that it is OK to refuse orders you believe are morally wrong – and that includes regarding evacuating settlements.